Texas
Texas’ app age verification law allowed to go into effect for now
A federal appeals court allowed Texas to require app stores to verify users’ ages and seek parental consent before a minor can download apps.
WhatsApp, Meta can access Texans’ private messages, AG Ken Paxton claims in lawsuit
The attorney general’s office argues WhatsApp and parent company Meta are deceiving users by claiming the companies can’t view their encrypted messages.
Local Texas leaders believe data center plans may be behind delays to emergency water supply
Across Texas, a booming buildout of server farms is adding strain to water resources that are already stretched to their limit.
Texas county pauses data center construction in rural areas for a year
Hill County commissioners’ split vote to issue a moratorium appears to be a first in Texas.
Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year
The tax break is one of the state’s costliest incentive programs and soon to be the most expensive of its kind in the nation.
New Texas Cyber Command looks to ‘bind the state together’
The command went live in September, and must build an information-sharing and analysis center, a threat intelligence center, a digital forensics lab and an incident response unit.
A new era of data center development is like a second industrial revolution
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has changed the data center industry and thrust construction of giant server farms into the public eye in a way that’s triggering significant community opposition.
AI enters the race: How Texas primary candidates are using it in 2026 ads
As Texas voters head into the 2026 primary, candidates are using artificial intelligence to mock opponents and sharpen attacks.
In the West Texas oil patch, companies plan gas power plants to run new data centers
The developer of one project, in Pecos County, calls it the largest power project in the U.S. Data centers are sparking a surge of gas power plant construction in Texas.
Removal of LGBTQ+ option from 988 hotline is straining overburdened Texas crisis centers
The groups that operate Texas’ 988 system face a convergence of challenges this year, from expiring federal money to heavier workloads since the Trump administration eliminated the special option for LGBTQ youth.
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Texas shares entire voter registration list with the Trump administration
Texas turned over data on more than 18 million voters, including partial Social Security numbers, as Democrats raise questions about voter privacy.
Texas county looks to task force to help close digital divide
Harris County, the most populous in the state, established its broadband task force in November to advise on projects, initiatives and other efforts to boost connectivity.
Texas lawmakers from both parties oppose Trump’s order targeting state AI laws
Texas’ new law regulating AI is set to take effect Jan. 1, two months after Trump’s executive order threatening to cut off some federal money if states pass “onerous” AI laws.
Texas universities deploy AI tools to review and rewrite how some courses discuss race and gender
Records obtained by The Texas Tribune show how universities are using the technology to reshape curriculum under political pressure, raising concerns about academic freedom.
Texas launches cryptocurrency reserve with $5 million investment
Lawmakers created a state Strategic Bitcoin Reserve earlier this year and dedicated $10 million to investing in cryptocurrency.
Texas becomes the first state to buy bitcoin as more states eye cryptocurrencies
A new law allows Texas to invest millions in the emerging financial market.
Texas sues Roblox, alleging the online gaming platform endangers children
Texas is the third state to sue the platform, alongside dozens of private plaintiffs who say Roblox didn’t do enough to protect their kids from sexually explicit content.
DHS asked Texas to hand over driver’s license data for citizenship checks
It’s the latest step to pool confidential data that the Trump administration claims will help identify noncitizens on voter rolls and tighten immigration enforcement.
A new South Texas data center will rely on untapped renewable energy
The new data center will work directly with a nearby windfarm to use energy the windfarm can’t send to the state’s electricity grid.
A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mine
Leaders of the effort say they moved to rural Hood County for its quiet country charm, which was shattered by what locals call “that roar” from the facility.
